By: Benjamin R. Nathan

Last week, I sat down with Kyle Racki and Kevin Springer, founders of Proposify, on their podcast, Agencies Drinking Beer to talk about socially conscious business practices and the media landscape. We discussed best practices for businesses – particularly production companies and agencies – that put social and environmental responsibility on even footing with profits when it comes to their bottom line. We covered a lot of ground, including the pros and cons of large markets vs. small markets, our…

With winter right around the corner, it’s never too early to start thinking about your holiday campaign. Take a look at our favorite holiday campaigns, and find some inspiration for your next seasonal spot. We didn’t make them, but we love them. John Lewis “Man on the Moon” There’s something about evoking the holiday season through the eyes of a child that gives this ad real emotional gravity (pardon the pun). John Lewis’ 2015 holiday…

In honor of the fast-approaching holiday season, we want to share a little gift of our own with you. This guide offers tips and tricks to help brands and agencies shape their holiday campaigns and stand out in an over-saturated market. 1. Start Early It’s never too early to start planning a holiday campaign. While it might feel odd to be thinking about snow and sleigh bells in September (or even July!), it will…

How do you run a socially conscious business? In this video blog post, I share some of my ideas, experiences, and questions about social entrepreneurship. I’m also asking YOU to share your stories of how you balance your personal ethics and values, with the drive to make a profit. Share your stories in the comments below, or send me an email at ben@footagefilmsinc.com. I’ll be sharing some of your stories in future posts…

At this season, when many of us are getting together with our families, it feels like a great time to write about the Art of Listening, which many of us leave under-cultivated. It’s so easy to unwittingly shut down communication when we don’t listen, and the simple act of asking questions and opening up to curiosity can have a major impact on how we experience our relationships with family, friends, or colleagues. I…

The summer between my junior and senior years of college, I had applied to work as Production Assistant on an independent film back home in NYC. It was my first film job, and though unpaid, I was very excited to learn and be part of the magic of moviemaking. In the midst of pre-production, just two days before we were to begin filming, the Producer quit! The Director looked around and said, “Who…

A little less than two years ago I had reached a particularly slow point in my business. It was nearing the holidays, and it was looking like things were going to stay slow at least until the New Year. I made the not-so-uncommon (and not-so-helpful) mistake of allowing this to affect my mood and self-esteem, and how I felt about the value of my work. I hadn’t been out on my own for…

Often I get the urge to disconnect. To delete Facebook from my phone, to stop the “feed.” To shield myself from the news and to insulate my attention, focusing instead on positivity, on creation, on productivity and betterment. And yet, I don’t delete the app. I feel a need to stay “connected.” Connected to people, world events, “news.” It feels important to stay up-to-date, and I think that perhaps if I do, there…